Three keys to victory for the Titans (9-7) against the Chiefs (10-6) in the wild-card playoffs on Saturday (3:35 p.m. CT, ABC, ESPN) in Kansas City:

Mariota's scrambling

Marcus Mariota led the Titans with 60 rushing yards on 10 carries in last weekend’s must-win victory against the Jaguars, picking up four first downs with his legs in the fourth quarter. The Titans will need more where that came from. There is a dropoff in pass protection with running back Derrick Henry starting in place of the injured DeMarco Murray, which could encourage Mariota to scramble more often. The Titans will want the Chiefs to have to account for Mariota as a runner.

Protect the football

The Chiefs seldom make mistakes – their 11 turnovers this season are fewest in the NFL. If the Titans lose the turnover battle, they’ll probably lose the game. Mariota has not gone consecutive games without an interception this season. He did not throw a pick against the Jaguars, but he did have a fumble returned for a touchdown after he and Henry collided in the backfield. Can he protect the ball?

Pressuring Smith

Conversely, can the Titans get pressure on Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith? Smith has a career-high 4,042 passing yards this season, 26 touchdowns to only five interceptions, and led the NFL with a 104.7 passer rating. The Titans’ 43 sacks are tied for fifth-most in the league, and their four turnovers last weekend against the Jaguars were their most this season.

Reach Jason Wolf at jwolf@tennessean.com and follow him on Twitter @JasonWolf and on Instagram and Snapchat at TitansBeat.

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Jason Wolf and Joe Rexrode discuss how the Titans' offensive tendencies will make it difficult to beat Kansas City if the game turns into a shootout.
Autumn Allison|USA TODAY NETWORK-Tennessee